BYOD or choose-your-own-device, which fits us?
Pure BYOD (personal device) is hard to secure. CYOD (choose from a list) gives the employee choice with IT control. Most of the time CYOD is the middle ground.
Try this first
- 1BYOD: only container apps (Outlook with Intune App Protection) on personal devices. No full MDM, no sensitive local data.
- 2CYOD: you offer 2-3 models, employee picks. Full MDM and BitLocker, your or co-ownership.
- 3Hybrid: corporate device as main tool, BYOD for simple things (calendar check, quick mail). Many SMBs already operate here de facto.
- 4Write it down. 'We do BYOD' without policy leads to friction every time someone leaves or an incident hits.
When to bring us in
Drafting a BYOD policy or CYOD list for 5-25 people? We have templates and pick alongside you, including MDM approach.
See also
- Should we buy or lease laptops as a 5-person company?Both work. Lease is predictable but pricier over the term; buying needs cash and your own depreciation. The difference is mostly admin.
- Is buying refurbished smart or asking for trouble?For office work fine, if from a serious vendor with warranty and a clean OS install. The trap is shady marketplace listings.
- How much RAM and SSD for office work in 2026?Rule of thumb for knowledge work: 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD as a comfortable minimum. 8 GB already feels tight; 32 GB is for heavy tools.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.